Another step forward

First the good news: Very many thanks to all of those who have contributed to our Fighting Fund. We have more to raise, but we are well on our way.

And now the very good news:

After six years, Arup, Surrey Highways and Spelthorne Council have agreed with what we have been saying all along: a housing development on the Kempton Park estate would destroy vital Green Belt, would alter the character of Sunbury for the worse, and would cause lasting traffic chaos throughout the surrounding area.

You may remember, in May and June last year, the Issues and Options consultation, where we were all asked where we would like development in the Borough to take place. Spelthorne Council have just released their Preferred Options for consultation, showing, in detail, where they propose that housing and other building will take place.

Kempton Park is NOT included among the sites proposed for development.

The Stage 2 Green Belt Assessment (a more detailed study) conducted by Arup came to the same conclusions it had in the more general Stage 1 Assessment: “that Kempton Park strongly meets the purposes of Green Belt land, and makes an important contribution to the wider strategic Green Belt. Not recommended for development.”

Surrey Highways were asked to assess the traffic impact of a development of 3000 houses at Kempton Park. They conclude that it would generate 1,700 extra cars on the A308/Staines Road East in the morning and 2000 extra cars in the evening. (And we suspect Redrow and The Jockey Club want to build way more than 3000 dwellings.)

Spelthorne planning officers conclude: “The loss of this site from the Green Belt would risk the merging of Spelthorne with Greater London and this would also significantly alter the character of the area.”

They also made this comment regarding the Jockey Club’s request for the estate to be included as a site for residential development: “The racecourse is a historic and established asset in the area and it should be explored whether its loss is inevitable on viability grounds or if a large housing scheme is simply more economically appealing to the landowner.”

We can’t argue with any of the above comments and conclusions.

But The Jockey Club and Redrow inevitably will, when we get to the Examination in Public next year, where our new Local Plan will be decided.

So we will be meeting shortly with our QC to discuss how The Jockey Club and their developer buddies will respond, and our strategy for that public hearing.